Condiment shaker



" Nov. 25, 1947. R.` R. COLLINS v 2,431,543

GONDIMENT SHAKER Filed April 27, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 1 2/ Irwento'r y MMM/@m Nov. 25, 1947. R. LR. COLLINS CONDIMENT SHAKER Filed April 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l, @MW a me);

Patented Nov. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES ATET FFQE CONDIMENT SHAKER Robert R. Collins, Weed, Calif. Application April 27, 1946, Serial No. 665,563

Claims.

This invention relates to an improved condiment shaker of the type adapted for receiving and selectively dispensing two different condiments, such as salt and pepper.

The primary object of the present invention is t-o provide a condiment shaker of the above kind having two compartments for the diierent condiments, and improved valve means for selectively dispensing the respective condiments from the respective compartments.

A more specific object of the Ipresent invention is to provide a valve means of the above kind which is efficient, simple in construction, and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

More specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a condiment shaker constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is anr enlarged top plan view of the condiment shaker shown in Figure 1, with the spout ring removed; f

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the leaf spring for normally positioning the valve plate;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 taken on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a central vertical sectional view of the container `forming part of the condiment shaker;

Figure '7 is an enlarged perspective view of the cap for the container;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve plate;

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the removable pin or intermediate portion of one of the guide loops of the container cap.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment |of the invention includes a container 5 having a neck 6 at the top and divided into two substantially similar open top compartments 'I and by an imperforate vertical transverse partition 9. A cap I0 is removably secured on the neck 6 and has a sifter top II provided with an imperforate medial portion I2 contacting the upper edge of the partition 9 to render the compartments 'I and 8 non-communicating. Pin and bayonet slot connections I3 are preferably used to detachably secure the cap I0 on the neck 6 of the container 5.

Upstanding guide loops I4 and I5 are xed to the sifter top I I near opposite ends of the medial portion l2, the loop I5 preferably consisting of spaced end ear members I6 and a removable intermediate member in the form of a pin I'I. The pin il has its ends removably received in the openings of the members I6, and is provided with a reduced intermediate portion IS, for a purpose which will later appear.

A Valve plate I9 is slidable on the upper surface of the sifterrtop II and has pairs of slots 25 and 2i, respectively, extended inwardly from its edge at diametrically opposite points. The slots 2U and 2I provide guide tongues 22 and 23 therebetween, which tongues are slidable in the respective guide loops Ill and I5. The tongue 23 extends outwardly of the cap and has its outer end directed downwardly to form a nger piece 24. An upstanding retaining loop 25 is fixed to the valve plate I9 at the inner end of the tongue 23 and inwardly of the guide loop I5.

A leaf spring 26 has its ends engaged under the loops Ill, I5 and 25, and is formed to exert a downward pressure on the valve plate I9 between the guide loops I4 and I5, as well as a lateral pressure against the retaining loop 25 of valve lplate I9 to normally position the latter with the retaining loop 25 disposed against the inner side of the guide loop l5. This limits movement of valve plate I9 in one direction under the iniiuence of spring 2B, at which time the finger piece 24 is in projected position. The spring 25 has spaced upstanding spring loops 27 which respectively bear against the inner side of the guide loop Ill and the inner side of the retaining loop 25 of the valve plate I9. Spring 2S further has a downwardly arched portion 2g between the spring loops 21 which bears on the Valve plate I9 and holds the latter in intimate contact with the upper surface of the sifter top ll of cap IB. It will be noted that an end of spring 25 engages in the reduced intermediate portion of pin I8 between the larger ends of the latter so as to retain said pin in position with respect to the ear members I6 of the guide loop I5. The purpose of providing the removable member or pin II is to allow for assembly of the parts, the tongue 22 being engaged under loop I4, and pin I'I being inserted after the tongue 23 has been lowered into position between the ear members I6.

The sifter top I I has perforations 29 and 3b, respectively at opposite sides of its medial portion l2. Valve plate I9 has similar perforations 3| and 32 at opposite sides of its medial portion 33, the perforations SI coacting with the perforations 29 and the perforations 32 coacting with the perforations 30. The arrangement is such that, when the valve plate I9 is in its normal position, perforations 32 are aligned with perforations 30 so that the condiment may be dispensed from the compartment l', the perforations 3i! being at this time out of registry with perforations 29 so as to prevent dispensing of the condiment from the compartment 8. Also, when the valve plate I9 is moved by pressing inwardly on the yfinger piece 24 against the action of spring 26, .the perforations 32 are moved out of registry with vperforations 30 and the perforations 3l are moved in registry with the perforations 29, thereby permitting the dispensing of the condiment of the compartment 8 and preventing dispensing of the condiment from the compartment While a condiment shaker of Athe presentlkind Y is capable of general use, it will be found espe'- cially useful in kitchens Where repeated use of both pepper and salt is required. The chef need only reach for one shaker to obtain either salt or pepper, .or both, also, either condiment may be readily selected or dispensed at will, it being simply necessary to indicate or know that the ydevice is normally .ccnditioned Ato dispense a certain one :of the two .condiments` V,From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will beV readily understood and appreciated bythose skilled in the art. Minorl changes are contemplated such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a condiment shaker, the combination of, a container having a neck at the top and divided into twosubstantially similar open-topcompartments by an imperforate vertical transverse partition, Ya cap secured on said neck and having a sifter top, said sifter top having an imperforate medial portion contacting the upper edge of the partition to render they compartments noncom municating, upstanding guide loops fixed to vthe sifter top near opposite ends of said medial portion, a valve plate slidable on the upper surface of said sifter top and having pairs of yslots er:n tending inwardly from its edge at diame-trically opposite points to provide guide tongues `therebetween, said guide tongues being slidable in said guide loops, one of said tongues extending outwardly of the cap to form a nger piece, an upstanding retaining loop fixed to the valve plate at the inner end of said one tongue and inwardly of one of the guide loops, and a leaf spring having its ends engaged under said loops and formed to exert a downward pressure on the valve plate between the guide loops and a lateral pressure against the retaining loop to normally position the valve plate with the retaining loop disposed against the inner side of said one guide loop and with the finger piece in projected position, the sifter top and the valve plate having' coacting per-forations, certain of which are registered with respect to one compartment and others of which are out of registry with respect to the other compartment when the valve plate is in normal position, said perforations being respectively arranged to be registered with respect to said other vcompartment and moved out of registry with respect to said `one compartment when the valve `plate is moved by pressing inwardly on the finger piece.

2. The construction defined in Vclaim 1, wherein said .leaf spring has spaced upstanding spring l loops respectively bearing against the inner side of the other guide loop ofthe capand the inner `side of said retaining loop of the valve plate,and a downwardly arched portion between `said spring Vloops bearing on Athe valve plate.

3. The constructiondened in claim ,1, wherein said one guide loop has a removableintermediate member.

4. The .construction dei-ined in claim 1, .wherein said one guide loophas la removable intermediate member retained in place by oneend of the leaf spring.

5. The construction dened in claim 1, wherein said one guide loop has a removable intermediate member in the form of a .pin `having a lreduced intermediate portion, one rend of Athe springengaging the reduced portion of the 4pin to retain the same in place.

ROBERT R.C'OLLINS.

EEFEBENCES .CITED The following references are of record in the 'ile of this patent:

Util- TED SICK-PES PATENTS Number Name Date 823,381 Williamson etal. June 1,2, 1906 1,046,803 Kendall et al Dec. 10, 1912 V1,979,446 Burns Nov. 46, 1 934 

